The 'Education' Mantra

What's not consistent with a free society is trying to supress ideas you don't agree with.

You can't consider yourself an educated person without being conversant with the viewpoints of those who hold totally different ideas than you do. And you aren't likely to become conversant with such ideas unless they are allowed to be taught.

The lady was reading from materials from the 3rd grade curriculum AV, not the local college. We do enough disservice to the young people through having them recite the Pledge of Allegiance during their elementary years and leading them to believe that the government of the states is wholly contained within that of the federal one. We don't need to compound the injury by planting this type of seed in their minds at that age.

Well, PS, at least we agree that the "Pledge of Allegiance" does harm.

But while the titles and subtitles on the video claimed the excerpts read aloud were from the third grade lesson plans, I didn't see evidence of that in the actual video. And knowing a little something about third graders, I doubt you could have kept a class of them awake with that kind of material. So let's just say I'm skeptical that they were hearing that book day in and day out, if at all, in third grade.

Exposure to alternative view points is fine as long as they are presented side by side without bias, something very difficult to accomplish. The moment teachers favor one view over another education stops and propaganda begins. We all know ideal educational environments are idealistic wishing. Speaking of which, it would be most interesting to approach the matter from the perspective of having two teachers. One steeped in capitalism, the other in communism. Let the student choose. Obviously this will threaten one side or another. Perhaps we should have role reversal, where a capitalist teacher is burdened with the task of convincing the class that communism is the right path and vice versa. Now that ought to be entertaining and informative. Just a thought. Anyone game?

The point of education is to learn to think critically enough to detect bias when it is served up as "truth".

I know of no way to accomplish that without presenting not only the views we agree with, but those we do not, and encouraging students to pick apart both sides to discover the truth for themselves..

AspenValley wrote: Well, PS, at least we agree that the "Pledge of Allegiance" does harm.

I prefer the American's Creed, though I still have an issue with the "one and inseparable" line in that one. The compact was, and is, a voluntary one - as are all associations according to our form of government. The way to preserve the union is not through the use of force, but by limiting the reach of the federated government into the sovereignty of the independent states that have joined the compact. As long as a state derives more security from being part of the union without also being unnecessarily subjugated to its control, it will voluntarily stay within the union. That is why it is so critical to get back to the original intent before the federated government completely destroys the general welfare of all of the states in the union with its obscene spending rooted in the invented authority and responsibility for the individual welfare of each and every citizen in each and every state.

AspenValley wrote: The point of education is to learn to think critically enough to detect bias when it is served up as "truth".

I know of no way to accomplish that without presenting not only the views we agree with, but those we do not, and encouraging students to pick apart both sides to discover the truth for themselves..

While critical thinking is well critical to detecting bias, then the presentation of such material needs to be done at a time when critical thought is capable. With the decision making part of a brain not fully developed even through the teen years, does it not follow that controversial topics involving critical thinking can not be reasonably presented at a very early age? This puts us into a dilemma. Does not early education become a period of biased indoctrination? And then, should critical thinking not be taught before exposure to controversial topics?

I agree... And I think the standard indoctrination of religious instructions; i.e., memorization of catechism, creeds, Biblical verses, etc., is inappropriate and biased propaganda indoctrination that should not be taught at an early age before critical thinking can occur. It should wait at least until the teen years when they can rationally look at it an recognize it for what it is.....

Good point.

You do see the difference here, right LJ? I understand your sarcasm, as well as your distaste for organized religion, but you do see the fundamental flaw in your reasoning, right?